Color Me Grey: The Alexis Stanton Chronicles, Book 1

Recently unemployed after quitting a boring office job, Alexis Stanton finds a mysterious ad in the help wanted section that might prove to be the answer to her desire for excitement and adventure. After an intense application process, including actually fighting with her competition, she gets the job of her dreams. But is it going to kill her?

terrific new action heroine

Review originally published at Amazon.com and refers to the written copy. I then bought all three of the series when they came out at Audible.com. ..Show More »/>I LOVE this series.

Wow. Some of you “reviewers” are really incredibly snotty, aren't you? OK, there are some spelling errors. Take a grammar pill, people! Much like Alex says, “Reading is a habit of mine, not a hobby, but a habit. It seems I just can't get enough. I will read anything.” Alex is up to doing anything too – anything from rappelling down a hill to swimming several miles in clothing and boots. You GO, Alexis!!!

Yes, Alexis comes from a privileged and yet unconventional background, but she doesn't seem all that spoiled to me. She is, admittedly, a bit “young” for her age, and somewhat naïve, and that is somewhat irritating to me, but that smooths out in the future books. Hey, she is 24, comes from an upper class background and has never really had much bad happen to her. She has to learn and grow, just like any young person. She is smart, stylish, and passionate about everything she does. Well, not everything. I mean, who really wants to be a data-entry clerk if they have half a brain? Oy. As “BigAl” says in his review, Alex “. . . has a passion to experience life that most of us lack.”

Some of you are pretty bent out of shape that Alex came from a privileged background, but she certainly isn't cut any slack when she starts out in her new venture as a member of a private military organization as it's lone female partner. And I can't see you whining and crying about her kicking butt and taking names, meeting and exceeding the new and tremendously difficult requirements of her new job if she was one of those with a penis. You would be talking about how “hot” the jock is. As for not really knowing what her father does for a living, other than being “in the military” --- anyone who knows, or is related to, certain military members knows full well that they are never allowed to know what their spouse/brother/son/daughter/wife is doing, where they are going, or when they will be back. Or, yes, what is is they really are responsible for. So get over it.

And speaking of penises – come ON people!!! Not every single book on the planet has to devolve into getting naked and getting it on. It is like you expect every book written to be “Oh, I meet the guy. Oh, I hump the guy. Oh, my life is complete!” Yes, Alex is quite taken by White, and when she realizes who he is, the guy she fell for at age 12, well, that explains that. And Colin is her friend. Yes, she is possessive of him, but who hasn't been possessive of their best (and mostly only) childhood friend? And Black is the kind of person I would love to have for a mentor if I am her. What is not to respect about this quiet, intense, knowledgeable giant of a man who gives her the courtesy of the respect that she earns through her hard work?

OK, I understand the Navy person who complained that the Military ranking wasn't perfect. I get fussy about stuff like that too, when it comes to forensics or other things that I am extremely knowledgeable about. Bummer. But it didn't faze me enough to upset me. You might mention it to J.C. She is on Facebook, and is always extremely nice to everyone who contacts her. I have “spoken” to her many times, and she is a real sweetheart. So, give her a break, people. She has written a series of three book that I, and others, enjoyed immensely. So, there are a few problems. Tell me one author that hasn't done something to rattle your cage at some point or the other. I have read books published by large houses that had glaring errors in them. J.C. Is doing this on her own dime, her own time, and with a lot of her own heart and soul poured into her books. I am sure she would appreciate a bit of respect for doing something that I certainly haven't been able to do, and I would doubt that many of you naysayers have either.

Great action, minimal actual 'violence' and a new twist on action/adventure. Jessica Geffen does an acceptable job - her voice is a bit too 'childish' for my particular tastes, but she fits the character so I was able to become more comfortable with it by a few chapters in, and was fine with it by the time I reached the second book.

Shades of Grey: Alexis Stanton Chronicles, Book Two

New job. New name. New assignment. When Alexis Stanton, a.k.a. Ms. Grey, is assigned to uncover the true identity of the infamous sniper Penumbra, she's also expected to protect the business mogul next on the assassin's hit list. The one person who holds the key to the sniper's true identity warns Alex not to dig any deeper. Penumbra has never missed his mark and will take out anyone who gets in the way.

Reflections of Grey: Book Three of the Alexis Stanton Chronicles

The past and the future merge.... Thinking she had learned all the secrets her friends and family could possibly hide, Alex realizes there are plenty more to be found out. Having never been good at telling lies, when she's asked to go undercover she's not sure she can manage the job. Plus, the job is at a strip joint owned by the Russian mafia. Will she be able to keep up the lie? Does she want to? Reflections of Grey is the third book in The Alexis Stanton Chronicles.

Alexis continues to grow as a character

I will admit it. I love this series, and Reflections doesn't disappoint. Alexis started out in Color Me Grey as a young, a little bit spoiled, a littl..Show More »e bit flaky, woman with an interesting background and an interesting new opportunity as the lone female member of a Private Military Organization.

Through the first and second books we watched as Alexis learned and grew, as a soldier and as a woman. Each was a true treat to read, and this third edition does not disappoint. Secrets are revealed, mysteries are solved, and Alexis truly grows into who she was always meant to be.

the wrap-up of this volume of the series would, should J.C. have decided to end the series at this point, be a clean break. Ends are tied, relationships are brought to fulfillment and relationships between the partners are high and tight. Mr. Black is still my favorite character besides Alexis (White is just a little too prissy for my tastes!) but all of the characters, whether you like them or not, are well written.

Though kids and family are taking up J.C.'s time right now, according to her Facebook page, she has written lately that she is working on a new edition, and I can hardly wait to read it! I got these books for my Nook, then when they came out on Audio I immediately jumped on them and have not been disappointed.